Better Days Ahead for Smart Missile Filly

Mark Smith - Saturday June 6

A good start to the day at Flemington for Twin Hills stallions Denman and Smart Missile with Denman’s 1000m straight track specialist Prezado making light of his 59kgs in the opener to capture his third consecutive race at Flemington before Smart Missile chimed in with the talented two-year-old filly Standoff who opened her account at her second start.Denman gelding Prezado loves the straight 1000m at Flemington (Brett Holburt/Racing Photos)

Ridden by Dwayne Dunn for trainers and part-owner’s Grant and Peter Dalziel, Standoff was well back in the field early but was withing striking distance at the 300 metres.

She really built into her work and was very strong over the final 100 metres to defeat the Akeed Mofeed (GB) filly Sunshines by three-quarters of a length with Denman filly Zesty Belle a half-length back in third.

Standoff was unplaced at her career debut over 1000 metres at Moonee Valley however Dunn said he was encouraged by the run.

Smart Missile filly Standoff powers home to open her winning account (Brett Holburt/Racing Photos)

“She ran terrific at the Valley. She was slowly away was wide on the corner and found the line nicely,” Dunn said.

“She has since trialled up well, so it wasn’t a shock to the stable. She still looked very immature in the yard, she’s just doing it all on natural ability, which is fantastic.

“I think she will get over further. She’s got a turn of foot and she looks more like a yearling than a two-year-old.”

Advertisement

 Bred by Kooringal Stud, Standoff was consigned to the 2018 Great Southern Weanling Sale where she was pinhooked by Elle's Lodge for $21,000 before being reoffered her at the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale where she was knocked down to Peter Dalziel Professional Horsebreaking for $30,000.

She is the seventh foal and seventh winner out of the Encosta de Lago mare Fidele who was purchased by Kooringal for $40,000 out of the Attunga Stud draft at the 2017 Inglis Australian Broodmare Sale.

From the family of the crowd-pleasing So Si Bon (So You Think), Fidele has done a great job at stud and her seven winners include one of our favourites, the multiple stakes-placed Not A Single Doubt mare Fidelia.

Kooringal Stud consigned a Bobby's Kitten – Fidele colt to this year’s Inglis Classic Yearling Sale where he was purchased by M Imai for $25,000.

After foaling a filly by The Brothers War (USA) last spring, Fidele was bred back to Kooringal’s new stallion Prized Icon.

Advertisment

Race Result - Schweppes Bagotville Hcp 1100m

Flemington Track: Soft(5) Time: 1:04.57
1
Standoff
- 2f Smart Missile (AUS) x Fidele (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: Grant & Peter Dalziel Rdr: D Dunn 57
2
0.8
Sunshines
- 2f Akeed Mofeed (GB) x Saramenha (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: Nick Ryan Rdr: R Mc Leod 57
3
1.3
Zesty Belle
- 2f Denman (AUS) x Autumn Zest (AUS) (King's Best (USA))
Tnr: M Ellerton & S Zahra Rdr: L Nolen 56.5
4
1.4
Safeeya
- 2f Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Star On High (USA) (Fusaichi Pegasus (USA))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: M J Dee 56.5
5
2.7
Divine Caprice
- 2f Sebring (AUS) x Divine Choice (AUS) (Rock Of Gibraltar (IRE))
Tnr: D & B Hayes & T Dabernig Rdr: Craig Williams 61
6
3.2
Pentangili
- 2f Star Witness (AUS) x Hollywood Mistress (AUS) (All American (AUS))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: J Winks 57
7
3.7
Suprina
- 2f Super One (AUS) x Danedina (AUS) (Danehill Dancer (IRE))
Tnr: Anthony Freedman Rdr: Jye McNeil 57
8
3.8
Astro Ruby
- 2f Nostradamus (AUS) x Red Rapture (AUS) (Red Ransom (USA))
Tnr: M Ellerton & S Zahra Rdr: Damien Thornton 56.5
9
4.0
Pocket Goddess
- 2f Written Tycoon (AUS) x Karuta Queen (AUS) (Not A Single Doubt (AUS))
Tnr: D & B Hayes & T Dabernig Rdr: D W Stackhouse 58
10
6.2
Quiller's Delight
- 2f Shooting To Win (AUS) x Bleiler (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: Brent Stanley Rdr: D Oliver 57
11
8.2
Lai See
- 2f Squamosa (AUS) x Random Act (AUS) (Show A Heart (AUS))
Tnr: G M Begg Rdr: Jordan Childs 56.5
12
8.3
Chavanne
- 2f Better Than Ready (AUS) x Hail Maher (AUS) (Al Maher (AUS))
Tnr: Grant & Peter Dalziel Rdr: B Higgins 56
13
14.1
Miss Kansas
- 2f Toronado (IRE) x Longing (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: R D Griffiths Rdr: Beau Mertens 58
More Reading...
One to Watch – Warrnambool
So You Think is the first sire to hit 40 winners for the season and he did it with a three year-old filly that won easily on debut at Warrnambool on Monday in the Kia Ora Stud colours.
Home Affairs 2YOs Shine at Official Sydney Trials
I Am Invincible’s exciting young sire son Home Affairs was the talk of the town after the yearling sales this year when his progeny topped both Magic Millions and Inglis Easter and at Randwick on Monday morning he had two runners at the official 2YO trials and both of them came out winners.
Sires With Winners - Monday September 22
Here is the full list of 28 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Breednet Follow the Official Sydney 2YO Trials - 4-6
All 2YO heats this morning run at Randwick over 850m with these trials the key factor in deciding fields for the Group III ATC Breeders Plate and Gimcrack Stakes in two weeks time.
Pedigree Potential –NZB Ready to Run – Nicks that Click
A quality packed catalogue for the 2025 NZB Ready to Run Sale is now online and in the lead up to the sale we’ll go looking each week for some horses of interest that jump out on pedigree for various reasons.
2025 National Thoroughbred Week Launched
National Thoroughbred Week, the newly launched industry initiative designed to bring the public closer to the thoroughbred and our sport, is excited to confirm a truly trans-Tasman exposure, with hosts confirmed across all Australian and New Zealand regions.
Tara Talks Racing - Trials and Racing
This week we’re talking trials after an insightful set of official 2YO trials in Sydney, plus some racing and how Fangirl will eventually go to stud with two Group I wins less on her resume than there should be.
Career Best Victory for Wentwood Grange Favourite Yearling
Dean Hawkins admits to shedding a tear or two when With Your Blessing was sold as a yearling.
Kiwi Cup Contender Headed to Australia
Melbourne Cup aspirant Trav secured his plane ticket across the Tasman with a pleasing performance over 2100m at Ellerslie on Saturday.
Breednet Follow the Official Sydney 2YO Trials - 7 – 9
All 2YO heats this morning run at Randwick over 850m with these trials the key factor in deciding fields for the Group III ATC Breeders Plate and Gimcrack Stakes in two weeks time.